Mercury-vapor lamp and rectifier-starting apparatus



Nov. 16 1926. 1,607,237

L. J. EUTTOLPH MERCURY VAPOR LAMP AND RECTIFIER STARTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 29. 1924 INVENTOR ms ATTRNEY Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES A 1,607,237 PATENT OFF-ICE.

LEROY J. BUTTOLPH, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY,' ASSIGNOR TO COOPER HEWITT ELECTRIC COMPANY. OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MERCURY-VAPOR AND RECTIFIER-STARTING APPARATUS.

Application filed NovembenQQ My present invention relates to method and apparatus for the starting and operation of a mercury arc lamp on an alternating current circuit and of a rectifier used for 6 rectifying the current from such circuit. It relates particularly to apparatus for use on alternating current and including a rectifier and a vapor lamp in which an arc is drawn in the lamp by the tilting thereof and in 10 which the rectifier is started by an. inductive kick produced by current passing upon the short circuitin of the electrodes of the lamp when it is tilted, the lamp being returned into operating position upon the es- 1 tablishment of contact between the electrodes thereof by' the flowing mercury therein.

Heretofore in starting and operating apparatus for vapor arc lamps on alternating 2 current circuits there has been employed an auxiliary starting electrode for the rectifier and a magnetic cut out therefor for short circuiting iton the starting of the rectifier and an auxiliary starting load. in

2 multiple with the main load. But 1n the apparatus of my invention these parts have been eliminated.

The'figure is a diagrammatic representation of a vapor "arc lamp and a rect1fier therefor connected to a source of alternating current.

In the drawing the alternating current supply main 1 and 2 feed the auto-transformer 3 which connects" thereto at the intermediate points 4 and 5. The lead 7 from substantially the midpoint of the auto-trans former 3 leads to the cathode of a va or arc lamp and other. apparatus as hereina ter described. The leads 6 and 8 from the outer 4o terminals of said transformer 3 connect with the rectifier 9at the anodes 16 and 17 thereof, respectively. The mercury vapor arc lamp 10 connects with said lead? at its cath-' ode 19 and with the cathode 18 of rect1fier9 745 by a connector 23- from the anode 20 of, lamp 10, through the inductance '14, and tb' the] cathode terminal lead 24 of said rectifier 9. The resistance 11 in series between transformer 3 and lamp 19 in said lead 7 serves as a stabilizer for the lamp and rectifier cur:

rent. Said inductance 14 serves also as a stabilizer for the lamp and rectifier current and also for the purpose of producing an mductive kick for the starting of the rectifier vU I as hereinafter. fully described. Connection Serial No. 752,995.

is made'from said lead 6 by wayof lead 21, resistance 12, lead 22, shifter 13, to the anode terminal 24 of said rectifier 9. The lead 25 connects'the starting band 15 of rectifier 9 to saiol lead 22. Said inductance 14 in addition --to"the functions noted above also serves to operate said shifter 13 an the manner well known in the'art. a

In the use and operation of the apparatus of my invention to start the rectifier and lamp said lamp 10 is tilted from the vertical position to'ahorizontal position and re turned to the vertical operating position as shown inthe drawin s. During the time that the lamp is in t e horizontal position the cathode mercury 19. thereof flows and contacts with said anode 20 thereby establishin a current path from the midpoint of trans ormer 3 through said lead 7 and the resistance 11 connected inseries therein,

through the lamp 10, lead 23, inductance 14,

shifter 13 (which is in the closed circuit position when current is not flowing through said inductance 14), through lead 22, resistance 12, lead 21, and throu h lead 6 to an outer terminaLof said trans ormer 3. Upon flow of current through said inductance 14 said shifter 13 is actuated thereby for the openin thereof-whereupon said inductance 14 having the flow of current therethrough suddenly interrupted hashi h re-active kick induced therein which is ischar ed stati-v cally from the startin 'band 15 w ence the induced current flows t rough lead 25 and re sistance 12, lead 21, anode 16 and the mercury vapor in-said rectifier 9 whereupon a spark is tween anode 17 and cathode 18 whereby the arc between anode 16 and cathode 18 is continned and another are between anode 17 and cathode 18 is established. Current will now flow from both the outer end terminals of transformer 3 alternating according to the cycles of the alternating current supply t through inductance 14, lead 23, lamp 10, and v lead 7, to the midpoint of transformer 3 in the manner well known in the rectifier art. pon such establishment of current flow in the rectifier the lamp 10 is returned to its rough rectifier 9 by way of its cathode 18 165 normal vertical operating position whereupon an arc is struck between its terminals which are will bemaintained and continued by the flow of the rectified current therethrough.

I claim 1-. In a mercury vapor arc lamp circuit, in combination, alternating current feed mains, a transformer connected thereto, a two anode mercury Vapor arc rectifier connected by said anodes to said transformer, a connection from said transformer to the cathode of a transformer connected thereto, a two anode mercury vapor arc rectifier connected by said anodes to said transformer, a connection from said transformer to the cathode of saidrectifier having in series therein a resistance, a mercury vapor arc lamp and an inductance, a switch connected on one side between said inductance and said "cathode and on the other side to an electrode on the outside wall of said rectifier adjacent said cathode, a resistance connected on one side to a point between said electrode and said switch" and on the other side to a point between one of the anodes and its connection to said transformer. 3. In automatic starting apparatus for alternating current mercury vapor arc lamps, in combination, a source of alternating current supply, a two anode rectifier therefor, a transformer connected between said supply and said rectifier, a connection from said transformer to a mercury vapor arc lamp and from said lamp to the cathode of said rectifier, a connection from one of said anodes to the rectifier cathode with a switch therein, an electrode outside said rectifier adjacent said cathode connected to a po1nt between said switch and the anode connected thereto, and singular inductive means for providing a high inductive kick across the terminals of said rectifier, for maintaimngthe rectifier current, and for stalzilizing the mercury vapor arc lamp curren a .4. An automatic, starting apparatus for alternating current mercury vapor arc lamps, in combination, a source of alternating current supply, a two anode rectifier therefor, a transformer connected between said supply and said rectifier, a connection from said transformer to a mercury vapor arc lamp and from said lamp'to thecathode of said rectifier, a connection from one of said anodes to the rectifier cathode with a switch therein, an electrode outside said rectifier adjacent said cathode connected to a point between said switch and the anode connected thereto, a resistance in series with said lamp, and singular inductive means for providing a high inductive kick across the point between said switch and the anode connected thereto, a resistance between said electrode and said anode, a resistance in series with said lamp on the cathode side, and sin gular inductive means for providing a high inductive kick across the terminals of said rectifier, for maintaining the rectifier current, and for stabilizing the mercury vapor arc lamp current.

- 6. In mercury vapor arc lamp apparatus, in combination, a mercury vapor arc lamp, a source of. alternating current supply, an auto-transformer connected at intermediate points to said supply, a mercury vapor rectifier having two anodes, a cathode, and an electrode outside its envelope adjacent said cathode, a connection from the midpoint of said transformer through a resistance to the cathode of said mercury vapor arc lamp, :1 connection from the anode of said lamp and through an inductance to the cathode of said rectifier, connections from the extremities of said transformer respectively to said recti fier anodes, a connection from one of said anodes through a resistance to said outside electrode and a connection from said outside electrode through a'switch to the rectifier cathode.

7. The method of starting a mercury vapor arc lamp and a rectifier therefor having an inductance in series therewith which consists in simultaneously tilting said lamp to establish connection between the electrodes thereof through the mercury thereof and short circuiting said rectifier through external connections, and then" simultaneously restoring said 'mercury vapor lamp to its normal position and breaking said short circuit of said rectifier, whereby a high inductive kick is produced throu h said rectifier to establish an are between t e electrodes thereof.

8. In a mercury vapor arc lamp circuit,

in 'combination, alternating current feed mains, a transformer connected thereto, a

twortanode mercury vapor arc rectifier connectei'. by said anodes to said transformena 5 connection from said transformer to the oath- 10 inductance, a switch connected on one side between said inductance and said cathode and on the other side to electrode on the outside wall of said rectifier'adjacent said cathode, a resistance connected on one side to a goint between .said electrode and said switc former.

Signed at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, this 28 day of November, A. D. 1924.

' LEROY J. UTroLPH.

and on the other side to said trans- 1 

